Vanity case construction



Nov. 3, 1936 F, SPITALNY 2,059,821

VANITY CAS E CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 15, 1955 D SP/T NY ATTORN EY Patented Nov. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VANITY CASE CONSTRUCTION Fred Spitalny, Elizabeth, N. J; Application November 15, 1935, Serial No..49, 881

3 Claims. (01. 22055) This invention relates to improvements in vanity cases and the like, and more particularly to improved opening and closing latch means therefor.

5 The invention has for its major object the provision of a vanity case having improved latch means for expeditiously opening and closing the hinged portions comprising said case.

More specifically, the invention contemplates 10 the provision of a vanity case comprising at least two hinged portions, one of said portions being provided with a member of the approximate length of the case to serve as a closure fastener whereby tilting said member will free the other 15 portion of said case for ready and. easy access to the interior of said case.

A further object is to provide a unique and convenient latch member for a vanity case.

The foregoing and many other features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed specification in which is described the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of vanity case incorporating features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is an end view thereof, partly in section.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the latch means as manipulated for opening of the case.

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of de- 35 tails of the invention.

Referring to the drawing in greater detail, the case preferably comprises the portions I and II joined together at one edge as by means of the hinge I2. In the present instance it is preferred m to form the case as a flat rectangular unit with the hinge along one of the longer edges, and to position in one of the portions such as II, means I3 for holding powder and rouge, etc., the other portion III of the case being adapted to house 45 and contain a mirror, comb, etc.

In the present structure it is preferred to provide the hinge I2 with spring means which at all times tends to swing the portions l0 and II of the case relative to each other to open the 50 case.

A preferred means of realizing the invention comprises an elongated inflexible latch member I4 of rectangular form positioned along the case edge opposite the hinge I2. While not essentially 55 so, this member is preferably approximately as long as the length of the case and. of a width substantially equal to the thickness of the case.

Fixed to the member I4 by soldering, brazing or the like, there is provided a member I reentrantly bent to provide loops or sockets I6 which 5 protrude through the opening I! in the case portion II into the interior of the case.

Within the loops [6 is positioned the central portion of a bar spring I8, slightly bent at each end to impinge at 2| on the inner face of the wall 10 I la of the case portion II.

In the above manner, the latch member I4 is held in intimate contact with the edge of the case along which it is positioned with its upper inturned edge Ma overstanding the lug Illa on the case portion Ill.

The latch member I4 may be provided with an operating knob I9 to facilitate manipulation of said member.

As can be noted from Figures 2 and 3, the bar spring I8 acts to maintain the edge I 4a of the latch member I4 in overstanding relation with the lug Illa. and, therefore, maintaining the case portions I0 and II closed. When the latch member I4 is rocked by manipulation of the operating knob I9, this member will pivot at 20 against the case portion II and the bar spring I8 will be straightened somewhat due to the movement of the loops l6 towards the wall I la. of the case portion II. When freed, the latch member I4 will resume its original position, being so urged by the bar spring I8 which tends to resume its slightly bent condition.

When the latch member I4 is rocked as shown in Figure 4, the spring incorporated with the hinge 5 I2 will immediately cause the case portion III to fly open affording ready access to the contents of the compact means I3.

The case is easily closed by merely moving together the free edges of the portions Ill and II, 0 the lug Ifla being formed with a sloping face Illb which cams past the edge I4w, said edge finally snapping over the lug low.

As can be seen from the foregoing, simple and economical means for opening and closing a vanity case or the like has been provided in its preferred embodiment. It is also apparent that, though simple, structural changes within the spirit of the invention may be made by skilled persons and, therefore, the scope of the invention as outlined in the following claims should rather be determined by the prior art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is:

1. A vanity case or the like comprising a pair of shallow rectangular case portions, a spring tensioned hinge pivotally connecting said case portions, a latch member mounted along an edge of one of the case portions and opposite said hinge, a lug on the other case portion engageable by said latch member for maintaining said case closed, and resilient means for pivotally mounting said latch member comprising socket means on the latch member protruding into the interior of the case, and a bar spring. positioned in the socket means, said bar spring having its ends in contact with the portion of the case mounting. :1

the latch means. v

2. A vanity case or the like comprising a" pair of shallow rectangular case portions, a;.spring. t'ensioned hinge pivotally connectingsaid case pol,- tions, a latch member mounted along an" edge of one of the case portions and opposite saidhinge,

a lug on the other case portion engageable by said latch member for maintaining said case closed, and resilient means for tiltably mounting said latch member comprising a bar spring, socket means on the latch member for engaging the central portion of said spring, the ends of said spring being in contact with the portion of the case mounting said latch means whereby tilting said latch member stresses said spring.

3. A vanity case or the like comprising a pair of hinged portions, a lug on one of said portions, anda latch member on the other portion for engaging said lug to maintain said case closed, and

resilient means for pivotally mounting said latch member comprising a socket means on the latch memberprotrudin'g into the interior of the case, and a bar-spring positioned in the socket means, said bar spring having its ends in contact with the-portion of the case mounting the latch means.

FRED SPITALNY. 

